By David Owei,Bayelsa <\/p>\n
There is palpable crisis and rancour currently rocking the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly deepened, as key party leaders shunned the party\u2019s State Congress on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Among those absent were former Deputy Senate President and ex-senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, as well as the senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko.<\/p>\n
Also absent was Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, member representing the Ethiope Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and daughter of former Governor James Ibori.<\/p>\n
Other founding leaders of the party prior to the defection of members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC were also said to have boycotted the congress.<\/p>\n
It was gathered that the Delta APC is currently divided into factions, with one bloc loyal to the Ibori\/Omo-Agege camp and another aligned with the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who is reportedly perceived to enjoy the backing of President Bola Tinubu and the party\u2019s national leadership.<\/p>\n
In Delta North, the division is said to involve one faction loyal to the immediate past governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and another aligned with Senator Ned Nwoko.<\/p>\n
It was learnt that the crisis is linked to allegations of imposition of candidates during the ward, local government, and state congresses, allegedly in favour of members of the defunct PDP who recently defected to the APC.<\/p>\n
However, the Delta APC coalition has called for immediate cancellation of the purported state congress. describing it as Kangaroo and a big joke.<\/p>\n
In a strongly worded statement made available to newsmen on Monday 2nd March, the Delta State APC Coalition for Equity alleged that several aspirants from the old APC bloc who duly paid for the State Chairmanship nomination forms were deliberately denied access to the forms despite full compliance with party guidelines.<\/p>\n
The group described the refusal to release the forms as \u201cexclusion through administrative obstruction,\u201d arguing that it effectively shuts out qualified card-carrying members from participating in the party\u2019s internal democratic process.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis pattern raises serious concerns about transparency, equity and adherence to due process,\u201d the coalition said, warning that the APC must not be reduced to \u201ca platform where outcomes are predetermined and aspirants screened out through technical maneuvers”.<\/p>\n
The coalition further alleged that recently defected elements from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Governor Oborevwori, were exerting undue influence over the congress arrangements.<\/p>\n
It specifically pointed to what it called \u201ccredible fears\u201d of an orchestrated plan to install Chief Solomon Arayinka, a former Delta State PDP Chairman, as APC State Chairman, alongside Elder Moses Idu as Deputy Chairman, a move it warned would amount to \u201ca transfer of PDP leadership structure into the APC.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf accurate, such action would marginalise foundational members who built this party through sacrifice and resilience,\u201d the statement declared, insisting that \u201cDelta APC is not an annex of any other political formation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group said the alleged irregularities have sparked widespread disenchantment among loyal members across the state and could damage party unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.<\/p>\n
In a dramatic escalation, the coalition had called on APC faithful across Delta State not to travel to Asaba for the scheduled congress on Tuesday, March 3, warning that participation would legitimize \u201can already decided congress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cParticipation in a compromised kangaroo exercise will only validate injustice and erode the credibility of our party structures,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
The coalition demanded the immediate release of nomination forms to all aspirants who had paid for them and called for the congress to be rescheduled to a new date to allow for a free and inclusive process where all card-carrying members can vote.<\/p>\n
It also appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe, as well as members of the National Working Committee, to urgently intervene, investigate the alleged irregularities and restore credibility to the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur demand is simple: fairness, transparency and equal opportunity for all aspirants,\u201d the coalition stated, warning that justice delayed at this critical moment could have far-reaching consequences for party cohesion and electoral prospects.<\/p>\n
The statement was signed by Ambassador Felix Datuowei, Acting Chairman; Kenchad Rafua, Acting Secretary General; and Chief Alex Ikpeazu, described as an excluded aspirant for the Delta State APC chairmanship position.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has called for unity and peace among party members while speaking shortly after the State APC Congress held at the Cenotaph in Asaba, the Delta State capital.<\/p>\n
However, he added, \u201cAnyone who did not come for this State Congress is not an indigene of Delta State.\u201d<\/p>\n
Governor Oborevwori expressed gratitude to the outgoing executive, led by Omeni Sobotie, for steering the party through what he described as a defining transition period following the political realignment of April 2025.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cI stand before you today filled with a deep sense of responsibility and brimming with optimism about the bright prospects of our great party. What began as a principled decision to align Delta State with the renewed vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has evolved into a powerful and unstoppable political movement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI commend the discipline, cooperation and resilience demonstrated by party members across the state and the peaceful conduct of congresses in the 270 wards, 25 local government areas and the State as a testament to the APC\u2019s internal democracy. There was no imposition. What we witnessed is broad consultation, agreement and inclusiveness. This structure belongs to all of us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI charge the new executive to prioritize regular meetings, strengthen grassroots engagement and intensify voter mobilization efforts ahead of the 2027 polls. Our mission is unequivocal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must secure victory at every level \u2013 the Presidency, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Governorship and the State House of Assembly. I have confidence that the APC in the state would deliver massive votes for President Tinubu and all the party\u2019s candidates,\u201d the governor added.<\/p>\n
Succinctly, the former Delta State PDP Chairman, Solomon Arenyeka emerged by consensus as the APC State Chairman. The former PDP State Organising Secretary, Emmanuel Egbabor, retained his position at the State APC Congress, while Mrs. Ifeyinwa Sobotie, wife of the immediate past APC State Chairman, emerged as the State Woman Leader, among other appointments.<\/p>\n
Dramatically, the newly elected chairman of All Progressives Congress(APC),Chief Solomon Arenyeka has promised to end all the bitterness and acrimony that characterized the party in the past. <\/p>\n
Arenyenka stated this at the opening remarks at the swearing-in, dwelt on the imperatives of peace, dwelling on the need for forgiveness, understanding and mutual trust from members and to all and sundry. <\/p>\n
The chairman urged the entire party to put behind them the imbroglio that characterized the process of the congress.<\/p>\n
Though, the congress attracted party leaders and stakeholders from across the state, ending in a charged atmosphere of celebration as the Delta APC formally inaugurated its new leadership ahead of the next electoral cycle, but some notable political figures and chieftains shun the Congress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By David Owei,Bayelsa There is palpable crisis and rancour currently rocking the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly deepened, as key party leaders shunned the party\u2019s State Congress on Tuesday. Among those absent were former Deputy Senate President and ex-senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, as well […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[2456,2177,6205],"class_list":["post-11499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-administrative","tag-exclusion","tag-obstruction"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11499"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11500,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11499\/revisions\/11500"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3052"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}